Iowa’s best colleges for 2027 are the University of Iowa, Grinnell College, and Iowa State University. Choosing the right college is a critical decision that can shape the rest of your life, and Iowa offers a real range, from large research universities to small liberal arts colleges.
Iowa’s colleges and universities are in major cities and small towns, with strong academics and plenty of extracurricular activities. Read the University Magazine rankings methodology and see our university rankings for context.
The Best Colleges In Iowa 2027
1. University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public research university in Iowa City, founded on February 25, 1847. It enrolled 31,563 students in fall 2025 on a 1,880-acre campus and has 12 colleges offering more than 200 areas of study. It is an R1 research university, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics sits on the west side of the Iowa River.
Founded in 1936 as the country’s first creative writing program, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop typically admits fewer than 5 percent of applicants. U.S. News tied Iowa for 46th among public universities in 2025. The Hawkeyes field 22 varsity teams in the Big Ten Conference in NCAA Division I.
2. Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, roughly halfway between Des Moines and Iowa City. It began in 1846 as Iowa College in Davenport and adopted the name Grinnell in 1909. About 1,760 students enrolled in fall 2022, and the admission rate was 10.76 percent that year.
The curriculum is open. The only required course is the First-Year Tutorial, and students choose everything else with help from a faculty advisor. Grinnell is need-blind for U.S. applicants, meets full demonstrated need, and had a $2.85 billion endowment in 2025. U.S. News ranked it 13th among liberal arts colleges and third for undergraduate teaching. The Pioneers play NCAA Division III.
3. Iowa State University
Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames was founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, and Iowa designated it the state’s land-grant college in 1864. It enrolled 31,105 students in fall 2025 and is an R1 research university with eight colleges, among them agriculture, veterinary medicine, engineering, design, and business.
Founded in 1879, the School of Veterinary Science was the country’s first state veterinary college. In 1939, John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry built a prototype of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer on campus, often called the first electronic digital computer. The Cyclones compete in NCAA Division I in the Big 12. For distance options, see our guide to the best online colleges in Iowa.
4. Dordt University
Dordt University is a Christian Reformed university in Sioux Center, in the northwest corner of the state and about 45 miles north of Sioux City. Classes began in 1955, and it was Dordt College until May 13, 2019. The fact box lists about 2,100 students.
It offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and its Science and Technology Center houses labs for animal science and agronomy. Faith and learning go together here, so expect a lot of Reformed thinking in the classroom. The Defenders compete in the NAIA, mainly in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, which they joined in 2000 and 2001.
5. Drake University
Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, founded in March 1881. Spring 2022 enrollment was 4,774, including 2,848 undergraduates. Its law school dates back to 1865, and it also has a College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Zimpleman College of Business.
Being in the capital helps with internships. The Drake Relays, which began in 1910 with fewer than 100 participants, is one of the best-known track meets in the country. The Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference, and the football team plays in the Pioneer Football League. About 1,900 graduate and professional students make up a large share of the campus.
6. Luther College
Luther College is an ELCA liberal arts college in Decorah, in the state’s northeast corner. Norwegian immigrants founded it in 1861 to train ministers, and it moved to Decorah in 1862. It enrolls about 1,400 undergraduates and is a four-year college only.
Popular majors include nursing, management, biology, psychology, music, social work, and political science. The Nordic Choir has toured Europe and appeared in the film The Joy of Bach, and the Nordic Fest keeps the Norwegian heritage alive. The Norse field 21 teams in NCAA Division III and will join the Midwest Conference in 2026.
7. Loras College
Loras College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Dubuque. Bishop Mathias Loras founded it in 1839 as Saint Raphael’s Seminary, and it became Loras College in 1939. About 1,235 students enrolled in fall 2024 on a roughly 65-acre campus west of downtown.
The university offers 49 undergraduate majors, 11 stand-alone minors, and nine pre-professional programs. The American Chemical Society approves the chemistry program, and the Council on Social Work Education accredits social work. Master of Arts and MBA degrees are available too. The Duhawks field 23 varsity teams in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference.
8. Northwestern College – Iowa
Northwestern College is a Reformed, evangelical liberal arts college in Orange City, on a 100-acre campus. Dutch-American leaders started it in 1882 as Northwestern Classical Academy. In fall 2023, it enrolled 1,715 students, including 543 graduate students.
It offers more than 135 academic programs, including degrees such as the B.A., B.S.N., M.A., M.Ed., and M.S. The Reformed Church in America is its denominational home. The Red Raiders compete in the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference and have won 15 national championships, which is a lot for a school this size. The Dutch heritage shows up in the town too, since Dutch immigrants founded Orange City and named it for the Dutch royal house.
9. University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls began in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School. It was Iowa State Teachers College until 1961 and took its current name in 1967. About 9,200 students enrolled in fall 2025.
Education remains a signature, and the College of Education sits alongside the Wilson College of Business, the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the College of Social and Behavioural Sciences. The Panthers compete in NCAA Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference, with wrestling in the Big 12, and football plays in the UNI-Dome. The 2014-2015 men’s basketball team ranked No. 11 in the AP poll.
10. Clarke University
Clarke University is a Catholic university in Dubuque. Mother Mary Frances Clarke founded it in 1843 as St. Mary’s Female Academy and also founded the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was Clarke College from 1928 until 2010. Fall 2024 enrollment was 962.
The university offers undergraduate degrees in 19 academic departments, with over 40 majors and programs, plus master’s and doctoral degrees. A small student body means small classes. Clarke teams are called the Pride, and they compete in the NAIA, mainly in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, which they joined in 2016 and 2017.
11. Coe College
Coe College is a Presbyterian liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids. It started in 1851 as the School for the Prophets and became Coe College in 1881. About 1,280 undergraduates attend.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits the nursing program. The Writing Center is described as the largest undergraduate student-run writing center in the country, and poet Paul Engle, who directed the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, is among its notable names. Being in a real city makes internships easier, and the small class sizes help. It is a good fit for students who want a liberal arts education in a mid-sized city. The Kohawks compete in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference.
12. Central College
The Baptist Convention of Iowa founded Central College in Pella in 1853 as Central University of Iowa, and it opened in October 1854. The Reformed Church in America took control in 1916. About 1,170 students enrolled in fall 2022.
It lists more than 60 academic programs, with pre-professional advising for medicine, law, nursing, and pharmacy. Study abroad runs year-round, including in summer, and is a big part of the student experience. The Dutch field 21 teams in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference, and the name nods to Pella’s Dutch roots. Since 2021, the college has stayed loosely associated with the Reformed Church rather than controlled by it.
13. Graceland University
Graceland University is a Community of Christ school with a 170-acre main campus in Lamoni and a second campus in Independence, Missouri. It opened in 1895 as Graceland College and became a university on June 1, 2000. Fall 2024 enrollment was 1,102.
Nursing is a major draw, and the program dates to 1910. The School of Nursing offers classes in Independence and online, with a BSN, an accelerated option, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education also operates there. The Yellowjackets compete in the NAIA in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
14. Mount Mercy University
Mount Mercy University is a Catholic university in Cedar Rapids, founded in 1928 by the Sisters of Mercy as a two-year women’s college. It became Mount Mercy University on August 23, 2010. About 1,450 students enrolled in fall 2023 on a 40-acre urban campus.
It offers over 40 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, including business, nursing, education, and social work. In 2024, Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose University in Davenport announced a merger, and the takeover was officially reported on June 1, 2025. The Mustangs compete in the NAIA’s Heart of America Athletic Conference.
15. Grand View University
Grand View University is an ELCA university on a 50-acre urban campus northeast of downtown Des Moines. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America founded it in 1896, and it became a university in 2008. Spring 2020 enrollment was 1,886.
It offers more than 40 undergraduate majors, four master’s programs, and nine pre-professional tracks, including medicine, law, pharmacy, and physical therapy. Nursing began in 1975 and is housed in the Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center. The library houses the Grand View Danish Immigrant Archives, and the Humphrey Center, the campus’s oldest building, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Vikings field 25 sports, esports included, in the NAIA Heart of America Athletic Conference.
16. Cornell College
Cornell College is a liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, founded in 1853 as the Iowa Conference Seminary and renamed in 1857. About 1,030 undergraduates enroll. It is best known for its One Course At A Time schedule, in place since 1978.
Students take a single course for about three and a half weeks, then move to the next block. A course covers in 18 class days what a semester course covers elsewhere, so a student can go deep on one subject or travel for a block. The Rams field 19 teams in NCAA Division III in the Midwest Conference, and Cornell ranks among the top 15 Division III colleges for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.
17. St. Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a Catholic university in Davenport. Bishop John McMullen founded it in 1882 as St. Ambrose Academy, and it became a university on April 23, 1987. Fall 2022 enrollment was 2,747, including 2,118 undergraduates.
It has more than 60 undergraduate majors, 11 master’s programs, and three doctoral programs: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and business administration. The Higher Learning Commission accredits it. The Fighting Bees compete in the NAIA, mainly in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. In 2024, it announced a merger with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. The school was St. Ambrose College from 1908 until 1987.
18. Simpson College
Simpson College is a United Methodist college on an 85-acre suburban campus in Indianola, next to Buxton Park Arboretum. It opened in 1860 as the Indianola Male and Female Seminary and has been Simpson College since 1885, named for Bishop Matthew Simpson. Fall 2022 enrollment was 1,151.
The Culver Center offers public service scholarships, and Simpson ranks in the top 100 colleges for study abroad. The National Association of Schools of Music accredits its music program. Students run the newspaper, The Simpsonian, and the radio station KSTM. The Storm compete in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference, and softball won national titles in 1997 and 1999.
19. Morningside University
Morningside University is a United Methodist university in Sioux City. The Methodist Episcopal Church took over the campus in 1894, and the school was Morningside College until it became a university on June 1, 2021. About 2,500 students enroll.
Graduate options include a Doctor of Nursing Practice (launched in 2019) and an MBA (launched in 2024). The Department of Mass Communications runs a weekly newspaper, a public-access TV partnership, and the radio station KMSC, which gives students real broadcast experience. Graduate study there began in the 1960s, and the university has kept adding programs since. The Mustangs compete in the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference.
20. Wartburg College
Wartburg College is an ELCA liberal arts college in Waverly. Founded in 1852 in Saginaw, Michigan, it takes its name from Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany, where Martin Luther was sheltered during the Reformation. Fall 2022 enrollment was 1,563.
It is a private college built around the liberal arts, with a Lutheran identity that shapes campus traditions. Luther translated the New Testament into German at the castle, a story the college tells often. The Knights compete in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference, formerly the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. With about 1,560 students, the university keeps classes small.
21. Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University is a Catholic and Franciscan university on a hilltop on the edge of Sioux City, with a campus of about 70 acres. It was dedicated on September 18, 1930, as Briar Cliff College and became a university on June 1, 2001. Men were admitted in 1965.
Nursing is a standout. Programs include a BSN, an MSN, a post-graduate APRN certificate, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The university has offered online courses since 2006. The Chargers field 16 varsity sports in the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference, which they joined in 2002 and 2003.
22. Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University (UIU) began in 1857 in Fayette, a town of about 1,200 in far northeast Iowa, and its residential campus covers 100 acres. Fall 2023 enrollment was 3,102, and most students study remotely or at one of its centers.
It has 15 center locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, and Wisconsin, plus an independent study program and online courses. The Higher Learning Commission accredits it. The Peacocks joined the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2023 and 2024, and UIU is the state’s only NCAA Division II athletics program. In 2023, it cut some programs and two satellite campuses.
23. Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a Presbyterian university on the shore of Storm Lake, in northwest Iowa, on a 60-acre campus. It opened in 1891 as Buena Vista College and became a university in 1995. Fall 2022 enrollment was 1,973, with about 1,470 undergraduates.
Four schools offer 42 undergraduate majors: business, education, liberal arts, and science. Army ROTC has been on campus since 2009, and degree completion sites around Iowa and online reach working adults. The Beavers field 21 varsity teams in NCAA Division III, and the softball team won the Division III title in 1984 after a runner-up finish in 1983. The softball team also played in the 1971 Women’s College World Series.
24. University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university on a 77-acre urban campus. Adrian Van Vliet founded it in 1852 as the German Theological College and Seminary, and renamed it the University of Dubuque in 1920. It enrolls about 2,200 students.
It houses a theological seminary and three schools: business, liberal arts, and professional programs. The Council on Aviation Accreditation accredits its aviation program. The school’s motto is “Many Gifts and One Spirit.” The Spartans compete in NCAA Division III in the American Rivers Conference. The 1920 name change followed a dispute with Loras College, which is in the same city. Alumni include actor Tony Danza.
25. Waldorf University
Waldorf University is a private university in Forest City, on a rural 50-acre campus. It was founded in 1903 as Waldorf College and became a university on March 17, 2016. Its Lutheran ties trace back to the ELCA and its predecessors, and the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation took ownership on December 1, 2022.
Fall 2022 enrollment was 2,763, much of it in online programs. It offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, plus certificates and online career-prep programs. The Warriors compete in the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference, a move made for the 2024 to 2025 season. The ELCA sold the college in 2010, and its accreditor now lists it as a nonprofit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best colleges in Iowa in 2027?
The University of Iowa, Grinnell College, Iowa State University, Dordt University, and Drake University lead this University Magazine list for 2027.
What is the largest university in Iowa?
The University of Iowa had 31,563 students in fall 2025, and Iowa State University had 31,105.
Are there Christian colleges in Iowa?
Yes. Dordt, Northwestern College, Luther, Loras, Clarke, Wartburg, and several others on this list have church ties, from Reformed and Lutheran to Catholic and Presbyterian.
Can I visit these Iowa colleges before applying?
Yes. Each college welcomes campus visits, and the admissions office can set up a tour. Our guide to college campus visits explains how to make the most of one.
Can I transfer credits to an Iowa college?
Each college has its own transfer credit policy, so contact the admissions or registrar’s office. Our guide to the college transfer process can help you plan.
Do Iowa colleges offer online programs?
Several do. Graceland, Upper Iowa, Waldorf, Briar Cliff, and Buena Vista all list online or distance options.
Top 25 Best Colleges in Iowa 2027: Ranked List
- University of Iowa
- Grinnell College
- Iowa State University
- Dordt University
- Drake University
- Luther College
- Loras College
- Northwestern College – Iowa
- University of Northern Iowa
- Clarke University
- Coe College
- Central College
- Graceland University
- Mount Mercy University
- Grand View University
- Cornell College
- St. Ambrose University
- Simpson College
- Morningside University
- Wartburg College
- Briar Cliff University
- Upper Iowa University
- Buena Vista University
- University of Dubuque
- Waldorf University
Read more about UM World University Rankings
University Magazine is part of the 
